Adjustable head for signals.



No. 685,|39. Patented Oct. 22, |90I.

` R. HERMAN.

ADJUSTABLE HEAD 'FOR SIGNALS.

(Application led Maly l.. 1901.3

E I I l l 'vaw (JZ- V I 4 i v l l A I Y H'o/m'wg NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINHOLD HERMAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE HEAD FOR SIGNALS.

SPCIFICAT forming part of Letters Patent N o. 685,139, dated October 22, 1901. Application tiled May 1, 1901. VSerial No. 58,303. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that 1, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Heads for Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in adjustable heads for signals, and has for its object to provide a head which will be rotatable on its axis', so that the signal-arm may be adjusted to any desired position irrespective of the position /of the signal mechanism.

My invention relates particularly to that 'class of signals known as the semaphore type. In this type of signals a signal-operating mechanism is usually employed which is arranged within a casing placed beside the track. On thiscasing is a tubular support which carries the spectacle-frame to which the semaphore-arm is attached. A rod extends through this tubular support and connects the semaphore-arm with the signal-operating mechanism.

It is the object of my invention to mount the head of this support in such a manner that the same may be rotated irrespective of vthe remainder of the support, so that the signal and semaphore arm, the lamp, and ladder may be swung simultaneously or moved around to any desired position irrespective of the tubular support and the box or casing and locked in any position desired and retaining the relative position to yeach other when so moved. This is particularly desirable when the signal is located at a curve'in the track, on bridges, and in many other places where it is difficult to so place the box or casing that the signal may be properly alined.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the views of the drawings, in whichV Figure 1 is a side elevation of the signalmechanism casing, the signal or semaphore the shaft or lever-arm which connects the shaft with the rod. Fig. 7 is a similar View of one of the bearings for the shaft.

Referringto the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 indicates the inclosing box or casing for the signal-operating mechanism, (not shown,) and on this box or casing is mounted a tubular support 2. Mounted on the upper end of vthis tubular support 2 is a rotatable head 3, which in the accompanying drawings is shown as formed with a box 4, terminating in a tubular extension 5, orwhich is mounted a cap-piece or dome 6. The box 4 is provided with a suitable door 7, so that access may be had to the interior thereof -when desired. .The one side of this box or box portion 4 is bulged to form a journal-box 8, in which is mounted shaft 9. The ends of Vthe journal-box are open', and I mount therein two bearing-sleeves l0 for the reception of the shaft 9, the sleeves having flanged ends 11, which abut'against the ends of the journal-box and are secured thereto by tap-screws or in any suitable manner. These tap-screws also secure the cap-plates 12 to the ends of the journal-box byiengaging through the same and through the Iianged ends of the bearingsleeves into the end walls of the journal-box. The one end ofthe shaft 9 is threaded and extendsthrough' the one cap-plate 12 to receive the spectacle-frame 14, which carries the signal or semaphore arm 15, the spectacleframe being held on the threaded end of the shaft by the nut 17. The shaft 9 is provided about midway of its length with a squared portion 9 to receive a sleeve 18, carried by the crank or lever arm 19, the lower end of which is pvotally connected to the upper end of the operating-rod 20, that connects the crank or lever arm with the signal-operating mechanism. The box portion of the head 3 has an opening in the bottom thereof of suf- ICO icient size to give free movement to the rod 20 when the signal is operated, and the desired adjustment of the crank or lever arm 19 is eected by means of a set-screw 21, arranged in a bushing 22, formed integral with the box portion 4, the said set-screw extending into the box portion at an angle, so as to engage thecrank l0. IVhere signals of this type are employed, it is the usual practice to provide a ladder, by means of which access may be had to the signal-arm when desired by the repair men or others so authorized. Thisladd er I support from the rotatable head, so that when the latter is adjusted or swung around on the post the ladder will be adjusted to conform to the position of the semaphorearm. For this purpose I provide tap-screws 24 in the head 3, to which the upper end of the ladder 25 is connected. These screws eX- tend into the tubular portion of the head only and are preferably not engaged with the tubular support, the head being secured in the desired position on the latter by means of screws 2G. The ladder 25 is further su pported by means of straps 27, connected thereto and brought around the tubular support and their ends fastened by set screws or bolts 2S. When it is desired to adjust the head, these screws or bolts may be loosened, so as to allow the ladder to swing with the head, as the latter may be readily moved when the set-screws 26are loosened. The tubular head 3 carries an integral bracket arm 29, which has a bracket 30 for supporting the lantern 3l. IVith this construction it will be observed that the semaphore-arm may be adjusted to its proper position irrespective ofthe position in which the signal-operatin g mechanism and its casing may be placed with respect to the track, thus affording a great advantage in places where it may be inconvenient to place' the casing and its mechanism in such a position as the same will aline with the track. The throw of the semaphore-arm may be regulated by the set-screw 24.

While the construction as herein shown and described embodies a practical form of my invention, yet I do not wish to unduly limit myself to the exact construction shown, as it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In signal-supports, a rotatably-mounted head to which the signal-arm is connected, and a ladder connected to said rotatable head, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a support, a head rotatably mounted thereon, and a'ladder connected to the head and support and rotatable in unison with the head, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a tubular support, a head rotatably mounted thereon, a semaconnected to the head and movable there- I with, substantially as described.

5. In a signal, the combination with the support, of a head rotatably mounted on said support, a signal carried by the head and movable therewith, anda ladder connected to the head and movable in unison therewith.

6. In combination with a stationary tubular support for signals, a head mounted on the support and capable of axial movement thereon without movement of the support, a signal carried by said head, and a ladder connected to the head and to the support and movable in unison with the head, substantially as described.

7. In signals, the combination with the inclosing box or casing for the signal-operating mechanism, and the tubular support carried by said box or casing, of a head mounted on the tubular support and capable of rotary adjustment thereon Without movement of the support, a shaft journaled in said head, a signal-arm mounted on said shaft, a crank connected to the shaft Within the head, an operating-rod connecting said crank to the signal-operating mechanism, a bracket carried by the head to support a lamp, and means for securing the head in the adjusted position on the support substantially as described.

8. In signals, the combination with theinclosing box or casing for the signal-operating mechanism, and the tubular support carried by said box or casing, of a head mounted on the tubular support and capable of rotary adjustment thereon Without movement of the support, a shaft journaled in said head, a signal-arm mounted on said shaft, a crank connected to the shaft within the head, an operating-rod connecting said crank to the signal-operating mechanism, means carried by the head for adjusting said crank, and a bracket carried by the head to support a lamp, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the tubular supporting-post, a head therefor having a tubular portion adapted to engage the upper end of the tubular support, a box-like portion above the tubular portion of the support, and a door forming one of the side walls of said box-like portion of the head, substantially as described.

l0. In combination with the tubular supporting-post for signals, a head mounted on the support and adjustable independently of the support, and a door in said head whereby access may be had to the interior thereof, substantially as described.

ICO

IIO

11. In a signal, the combination with the support, of a head mounted for rotary adjustment on the support and carrying the signalarm, a lamp-supporting bracket carried by the head, and a door in the head and forming one of the side walls thereof, substantially as described.

12. In signals, the combination with a support, of a head mounted on the support and capable ot' rotary adjustment thereon independently of the support, a signal-arm pivotally supported from the head so as to be moved therewith when the head is adjusted on the support,and a lamp-supportin g bracket carried by the head, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a hollow supporting-post for signals, of a head mounted thereon and capable of rotary adjustment independently of the support, means for securing the head in the adjusted position, a signal pivotally connected to the head, and alampbracket carried by the head, the signal and lamp-bracket being movable with the head as the latter is adjusted on the support, substantially as described.

14. In signals, the combination with the hollow supporting-post, of a head mounted on the support and capable of rotary adjustment thereon without movement of the support, a shaft journaled in the head and to which the signal-arm is connected, an operating-rod connecting said shaft to the signaloperating mechanism, and means carried by the signal-head for adjusting the throw of said rod, substantially as described.

15. In signals, the combination with a hollow supporting-post, of a common head from which the signal-arm and signal-lamp are suspended, the said head being mounted on the support and capable of rotary adjustment thereon independently of the support, substantially as described.

16. The combination withahollow supporting-post, of a signal-head mounted thereon and capable of rotary adjustment independently of the support, the signal-arm and signal-lamp being connected to the head so as to be movable therewith around the support as the head is adjusted', and means for securing the head to the support to hold the same against rotation after being adjusted to position, substantially as described.

17. In electrically operated signals, the combination with the hollow support,of mechanism within the hollow support for operating the signals, a head mounted on the support and capable of rotary adjustment thereon independently ofthe support, with the signal carried by said head and movable around the support with the head as the latter is adj usted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REINHOLD HERMAN. Witnesses:

JOHN NOLAND, E. E. POTTER. 

